010 Sennacherib

Museum Description: Sennacherib Watches the Capture of Lachish

Room: 10/Case: None/Number: WA 124910-2

Scripture: 2 Kings 18:14

Here we have an actual representation of one of the most famous kings from the Bible, Sennacherib.  How do we know this is him, and what is depicted in this scene?  Above his head we can see a cuneiform inscription which says: “I am Sennacherib, king of the world, king of Assyria, sat upon a throne and passed in review the booty taken from Lachish.”   Imagine the excitement when this was translated for the first time, showing it had such a direct link with the Bible!  Sennacherib's faced has been knocked off, likely by a conquering Babylonian army.  This was standard practice, to humiliate the defeated king.  This "king of the world" was to be put to death by his two sons, while in the temple of one of his false gods.